It is necessary to establish an appropriate model of support for persons with disabilities, and state and other authorities must recognize themselves as responsible for helping to further improve their position.
This, among other things, was said by the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms (Ombudsman) Siniša Bjeković during the conference "Improving the inclusion of children with disabilities and adults with disabilities in Montenegro".
He emphasized that family and parents are the factors on which the position of PWDs in Montenegro depends.
Bjeković announced that a report would be prepared so that everyone would be aware of the position of people with disabilities.
"Children remain a priority category," said Bjekovic.
The United Nations advocates for the equality of persons with disabilities
Coordinator of the United Nations Program for Montenegro, Nela Krnić, said that realizing the rights of PWDs is "an important aspect of the work of the United Nations (UN) in Montenegro."
She said that the UN stands for the equality of persons with disabilities, adding that they actively promote and contribute to the partnership for improving the position of children with disabilities in Montenegro.
During the presentation of the results and challenges, Krnić pointed out that the entire project cost 330.000 dollars.
"We had two goals - support to the Government of Montenegro in the prevention of institutionalization and to facilitate the transition of persons with disabilities and children with developmental disabilities from institutions to family and community support services, and the second goal was to provide support to the UN in Montenegro in order to ensured the participation of PWDs and children with developmental disabilities in their programs and activities," said Krnić.
She said that a proposal for a minimum package of services for children with disabilities and their families at the local level has been defined.
Krnić emphasized that it is important to improve policies and the legal framework for the realization of the comprehensive rights of children with disabilities, adolescents and young people with disabilities.
Darko Mijušković, president of the Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, said that it is important to conduct sign language training at a much higher level.
"We hope that the UN will support us to have even more training that will make life easier for us. We should cover all of Montenegro with these trainings," said Mijušković.
There is a lack of professional staff and appropriate use of terminology
The coordinator of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism, Milena Krsmanović Iković, said that the biggest problems are the lack of professional staff, as well as the adequate use of terminology.
"Certain institutions contain derogatory names that, in that way, deter PWDs," she said, adding that the concept of inclusive education has not taken root in Montenegro.
During the panel "The role, achievements and challenges of the project with a focus on an independent monitoring mechanism for the promotion, protection and monitoring of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities", the director of the Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro (UMHCG) Marina Vujačić said that the movement " PWDs will disappear unless something changes".
"Many things happened that lead to this, and we worked on it spontaneously and systematically," said Vujacic.
She pointed out that the poverty of people with disabilities is much higher today than 10 years ago.
"There were many more activists in the organizations. We had lower expectations because the laws had just started to be adopted. From 2015 until today, stagnation started to happen," said Vujacic.
She said that "we should ask ourselves how many PWDs live independently".
Marija Boljević, from the NGO Staza, said that it is never too late to move forward and act in favor of PWDs and children with developmental disabilities.
She emphasized that the media and employees of social institutions should be educated about the correct use of terminology.
Miroslava Mima Ivanović, from the I Mi Boka organization, said that she was not happy that she was "spending her personal resources to show off".
She said that the USA gave her more in three months than Montenegro did in 34 years.
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